Shank hendebson macbeth



J. C. H. MACBETH & A. J. JUNG.

CODES, CIPHERS, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1916 l a, 1 95.30 1 Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

2 SHE TS-SHEET 1. fig. 1. M

J. C. H MACBETH & A. J. JUNG.

' CODES, CIPHERS, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. 1916.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[ ETED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES CRUICKSHANK HENDERSON MACBETH, OF LONDON, AND ALFRED JAMES JUNG,

OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE WIRELESS PRESS, LIM- ITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

CODES, CIPHERS, AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented An. 22, 1916.

To all whom 2'25 may concern Be it known that we, JAMES CRUIGK- SHANK HENDERSON MAOBETH and ALFRED JAMEs JUNG, both subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing, respectively, at 11 Lon Acre, London, England, and at 7 Princes street, Westminster, London, England, have invented new and useful In1- provements in or Relating to Codes, Ciphers, and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to-telegraphic or other signal codes, ciphers or the like and has for its object to provide a ready means for coding or decoding a message by which the code may be easily changed and which can be kept safe against unauthorized access.

We employ a stationary table or plate bearing figures or it may be letters) arranged in rows and columns and on two adjacent sides thereof we mount two rotatable cylinders or prisms each bearinga number of series of letters (or it may be figures), each series being furnished at one end with a determining or key figure or letter. Each prism is connected to a lock, such as a Yale lock for instance, so that it can only be turned by the insertion of a key and the whole is inclosed in a box secured by a suitable lock. Preferably a counter is so mounted in the box that it registers the number of times the box is opened. Preferably also the prisms and their looks are so arranged that in the only position in which the keys can be inserted and withdrawn, no letters (or figures) are visible on the prisms.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 of which shows a code box open and ready for use; Fig. 2 is an underside view showing the prisms; Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line AA of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a detail; Figs. 5 and 6 are horizontal sections through the axis of one of the prisms showing a modification and Figs. 7 and 8 are vertical transverse sections thereof.

1 is a box which is secured by a lock 2 and in which is secured a plate 3 engraved with numerals arranged in five rows and twenty columns.

4: is a prism mounted in bearings so that it can be rotated by the insertion and rotation of a key 5 in a barrel lock 6, the barrel of which is connected to the prism. The prism carries nine series of letters, which are all consonants, numbered 1 to 9; of these N0. 1 is seen. One face of the prism or a portion thereof is left blank and the prism is so arranged with regard to the lock that the key can only be withdrawn from the look when the blank face is visible.

7 is a second prism similar to the prism 4 and having the vowels upon it. A ratchet and pawl 8 prevent the backward rotation of each prism.

9 is a counter actuated by a pin 10 on the lid of the box each time the lid is closed.

While we have called the parts 4 and 7 prisms, it will be understood that they may be cylinders or'in fact any adjustable devices suitable to carry characters in the manner specified.

The locks employed for the prisms or character-carriers may be of any suitable construction. Many such locks are commonly known. It is important that locks should be employed of the kind in which the keys can be inserted and withdrawn only when the keys are in a given position so that they cannot be inserted or withdrawn when the character-carriers are in position for use. Where two character-carriers are employed, as above specified, each controlled by a key, the keys may be of different kinds one of which may be held by one person and the other by another so that it will not be possible to adjust the apparatus for use unless the two persons holding the keys are present and perform the necessary operations.

The counting mechanism 9 which is operated bv the pin 10 may be of any suitable kind. Many such devices are commonly used for indicating the number of times a box or drawer is opened or closed.

When it is desired to translate a message into cipher, the two prisms 4 and 7 are first set so that the numbers at the beginning of the series of letters are those corresponding to the key number (in the case illustrated this number is 11) and then any two digits can be translated into a pronounceable syllable (e. g. 18:il, 76:0v) or vice versa.

With two prisms having each nine series of letters there are eighty-one difi'erent key numbers and the key can be changed whenever it is thought desirable or should there be any suspicion that the cipher in use has been ascertained by an unauthorized person.

To give greater security we may make the key numbers adjustable with regard to the series of letters as shown in Figs. 5 to 8. Here the prism 1, for instance, is not.

made in one with the piece 11 which carries the key numbers but is connected to it by a pin 12 which can enter any one of eight holes 121, the prism in this case having eight faces. close up to the prism by a spring 13 but when it is desired 'to change the key numbers relatively to the series of letters, a key 11 is inserted into a lock 15 depressing a spring plunger 16 which normally engages one end of a lever 17 the other end of which engages the piece 11. The key, on being turned, turns the lever 17 and thus withdraws the piece 11 from engagement with the pin 12 so that the piece can be rotated to change the key numbers. If desired the prism may be made in more than one piece so that the series themselves can be varied. It will be understood that the communicating parties prearrange which series of letters or characters on the two prisms are to be used and each party before coinmunication is established properly sets the prisms so that the key numbers correspond,- for instance in the drawings the key number shown on each prism is 1 which combined give thenumber 11 as the key. Many code books have in addition to an arbitrary word, to express a phrase or phrases a series of numbers which may be telegraphed in substitution for this arbitrary code word.

To avoid the expense and difliculty of cabling numbers and also to insure a greater element of secrecy frequent usev is made 'of some system of transforming the ciphers or numbers into 'pronounceable words. Assuming that it is desired to telegraph the numbers 103486 and 259766 the sender of the message in using our apparatus will set the prisms according to the key number agreed upon, for instance 11, as shown in the drawings. The sender of the message when transmitting the number 103486 first locates the number 10 on the number plate and then writes down the letter at the top of the vertical column of numbers in which 10 stands, and then the letter at the left on the horizontal column in which it lies, or

The piece 11 is normally held like manner the other numbers are found and the syllables written until the word naseju is found and in like manner by finding the numbers 259766 the word hewujo is found. These words are then sent and the receiving party after having set his instrument in accordance with the key agreedupon would find the numbers in the number plate corresponding with the syllables received and he would then be able to translate these syllables into numbers until finally the numbers are obtained which correspond with .the words, phrases or sentences to be obtained. In other words, having received the syllables he can find the numbers and then by referring to a code he can find the :meaning of the numbers.

What we claim is 1. In means for translating into and from cipher, the combination of a table bearing rows and columns of characters,-two movable carriersreach of which bears a plurality of series :of characters having designating key-characters thereon, one of which carriers is arranged parallel to the rows .and the other :to [the columns, and means for adjusting the character-carriers.

2. In means for translating into and from cipher, the combination of a table bearing rows and columns of characters, two rotatable carriers each of which bears a plurality of series of characters having designating key-characters thereon, one of which carriers is arranged parallel to the rows'and other to the columns, means for adjusting the carriers, and independently operated devices for locking each of saidcarriers.

4. In means for translating into and from cipher, the combination of a table bearing rows and columns-of characters, two rotatable carriers each of which bears a plurality ofseries of characters, one of which carriers is arranged parallel :to the rows and the other to the columns, 1 and separate key-operated devices for locking each of said carriers.

.5. In means for translating into and from cipher, the combination of a table bearing rows and columns of characters, two movable carrierseach of which bears'a plurality of series of characters and a key-character for each series, one carrier arranged parallel to the rows and the other to the columns, means for adjusting the key-characters independently of theseries of characters, and means for adjusting said carriers.

6. In means for translating into and from cipher, the combination of a table bearing rows and columns of characters, tWo rotatable carriers each of which bears a plurality of series of characters and a key-character for each series, one of said carriers being arranged parallel to the rows and the other to the columns, means for rotating the keycharacters independently of the series of characters, and means for rotating said carrlers.

JAMES CRUIGKSHANK HENDERSON MACBE'IH. ALFRED JAMES JUNG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

